What was the bloodiest war ever fought in American history and why?

Answer 1

http://www.civilwarhome.com/casualties.htm
http://www.civilwarhome.com/Battles.htm

At least 618,000 Americans died in the Civil War, and some experts say the toll reached 700,000. The number that is most often quoted is 620,000. At any rate, these casualties exceed the nation's loss in all its other wars, from the Revolution through Vietnam.

______________________

51,000 people died at Gettysburg alone. These numbers are staggering given that the country was much, much smaller than it is now.

Answer 2

In the number of American deaths, the civil war. The reason for the ferocity of this is that the war was a civil one, that is each side felt the other side was betraying their country, or what their country stood for. And as you know there is no stronger feeling than hatred toward a traitor. So it was a war, in many cases, with no quarter. (Yes, I realize there were many individual actions of mercy).
Another reason why a civil war is so deadly is that the enemy is always within the country, so the only way you can eventually have peace is by totally anhilating the power of the other side, whom you consider to be the enemy. You can't leave a civil war half fought, as you can if you are fighting against another nation.
By the way, it is true that the issue of the Civil War was states rights. However the question that was provoking so much controversy was whether or not slavery would be allowed to be spread. Lincoln had no intention of abolishing slavery where it existed, but he had made clear his intention of doing everything in his power to prevent slavery from spreading to new states. The 'slave states' felt that this would eventually push them into a minority and they would end up becoming vassal states to the North, which would, in the long run, force them to give up slavery. (We mustn't forget that slavery had now been forbidden in the british Empire). So in a sense, it wsa about slavery. The civil war simply made the abolishment of slavery happen faster than it otherwise would have.

Answer 3

The American Civil War was NOT to free the slaves. The NORTH still had slavery. U.S. Grant STILL had slaves, and Lee was the one who had freed his slaves. That alone should prove it wasn't. It was a war about the rights of States. The South felt their rights were being taken from them. The North held the influence and didn't seem to understand the difference of how things were in the South. The misinterpritation of it being about slavery comes from the Emancipation Proclamation, which IF read says that the slaves IN REBEL States were to be freed. Note that it specified REBEL States, which had suceeded from the Union and didn't care WHAT Lincoln said. The remaining slaves in the North and non-rebel territories were allowed to be kept. This was a political move to make it look like it was about slavery to keep England and France from entering the war and helping the Confederacy.. Brothers fought and Fathers fought sons, not to mention other relations. Some came from the same house as they went to the other side, Northerns going South and Southerns going North. In the end 640,000 people were killed, more then all other American Wars combined. After those 4 years the country never fully healed even to this day, yet it also still hasn't taken up arms against each other in such a manner. That is the one thing that truly helps make this country unique. In 140 years we have never had another Civil War unlike most countries that collapse into a Civil War.

Answer 4

If you mean any deaths, it would have to be World War II. If you mean deaths from a single country, it would depend on the war.
Reading all the answers to this point, it is assumed that you are American. The answers assume that you meant American deaths.

I make no such assumptions. Please understand that I'm not being "snotty" here. It's just that I prefer the question to be more precise so my answer can be just as precise.

More deaths caused by or result of World War ll than all other wars combined in the history of the world.

Answer 5

It had to be the Civil War because it was a war between the states, brother against brother and so they were all American casualties.

Answer 6

I'd say the American Civil War. It positioned not only a country against itself but it pressed families against each other. Brothers fought brothers. Hundreds of thousands died.

Answer 7

The Civil War or as it is sometimes referred-to: The war Between the States. Ostensibly to free the slaves.

Answer 8

i agree the civil war was the bloodiest. all casualties were americans

Answer 9

It has to be the Civil War. The ammunition and weaponry were still primative, damaging and lethal, but battlefield medicine was way behind. Those who didn't die agonizing deaths became Morphine addicted amputees.

Answer 10

It's have to be the Civil War. No matter who got injured or killed they were all still Americans.